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Buddleia 'Crown Jewels' PP27878

MONARCH® Collection

Common Name: Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac

Grow this Butterfly Bush for its beautiful gold foliage which shines brightly from spring through fall, easily taking the place of a compact shrub in the landscape.

As an added bonus, sharply contrasting, magenta purple flowers sparkle like jewels against the dense, golden foliage, pointing skyward on branched stems from late summer through early fall. Secondary flowers extend the show even further into fall.

Butterfly Bushes have certainly earned their place in the garden over the years, and its easy to see why. Just when we need a breath of fresh air in the late summer heat, they happily burst into bloom. At a time when many other plants are already spent, buddleias are just beginning their show. Their passive coloring and texture makes a wonderful backdrop for perennials, and you'll love the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds that flock to their honey-scented blossoms.

Buddleias should be planted in a full sun location with fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Studies have shown that adding lime to the soil will result in increased growth and better floral quality. They are also moderately drought tolerant once established.

Since they frequently die all the way back to the ground in northern winters, it is best to cut back all of the old wood to about 12" in the spring. Doing so will result in more compact plants. They will quickly grow back to their normal height by fall and will flower just as prolifically in late summer since they bloom on new wood. You may notice that the flowers tend to be longer and deeper colored in cooler weather.

Buddleias tend to break dormancy late in the spring, so don't worry if you don't see anything happening with them when your other shrubs start to leaf-out. These are very durable and reliable plants.

Feed with a constant liquid fertilization program using rates of 75-100 ppm nitrogen with every irrigation. The other option is to incorporate controlled-release fertilizers into the growing medium prior to planting at a rate equivalent to 1-1/4 lbs. of nitrogen per yard of growing mix.

Vernalization:

Not required.

Pests & Diseases:

Root-knot nematode, aphids, mites.

Stem canker, root rot, scab.

Potting & Timing:

Plants will grow quickly under warm temperatures and more slowly under cool temperatures. If grown under cool conditions, plants will remain dormant for an extended period of time.

Moisture:

For potting soil use Commercial planting media. Water sparingly until plants begin to break dormancy. Once plants begin growing, water thoroughly and allow to dry slightly between waterings.

Planting Level:

Crown even with soil line.

PGRs/Pinching:

Apply Sumagic at 5 ppm. It is best to begin PGR applications about two weeks following the pinch and reapply them at 7 to 10 day intervals if additional control is necessary.

Lighting:

Buddleias are obligate long-day plants and will not flower unless grown under long-day conditions.

Other Comments:

In the landscape: Studies have shown that when butterfly bushes are pruned in the fall before going dormant and when weather conditions are still favorable for growth, the chances of injury and possible death increase. Therefore, plants should be pruned back hard in the spring rather than in the fall.

Grower Tips:

Space the crop well and provide good airflow through the crop. Water early in the day to allow the foliage to dry by the end of the day.

Buddleias should be planted in a full sun location with fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Studies have shown that adding lime to the soil will result in increased growth and better floral quality. They are also moderately drought tolerant once established.

Since they frequently die all the way back to the ground in northern winters, it is best to cut back all of the old wood to about 12" in the spring. Doing so will result in more compact plants. They will quickly grow back to their normal height by fall and will flower just as prolifically in late summer since they bloom on new wood. You may notice that the flowers tend to be longer and deeper colored in cooler weather.

Buddleias tend to break dormancy late in the spring, so don't worry if you don't see anything happening with them when your other shrubs start to leaf-out. These are very durable and reliable plants.

Feed with a constant liquid fertilization program using rates of 75-100 ppm nitrogen with every irrigation. The other option is to incorporate controlled-release fertilizers into the growing medium prior to planting at a rate equivalent to 1-1/4 lbs. of nitrogen per yard of growing mix.

Vernalization:

Not required.

Pests & Diseases:

Root-knot nematode, aphids, mites.

Stem canker, root rot, scab.

Potting & Timing:

Plants will grow quickly under warm temperatures and more slowly under cool temperatures. If grown under cool conditions, plants will remain dormant for an extended period of time.

Moisture:

For potting soil use Commercial planting media. Water sparingly until plants begin to break dormancy. Once plants begin growing, water thoroughly and allow to dry slightly between waterings.

Planting Level:

Crown even with soil line.

PGRs/Pinching:

Apply Sumagic at 5 ppm. It is best to begin PGR applications about two weeks following the pinch and reapply them at 7 to 10 day intervals if additional control is necessary.

Lighting:

Buddleias are obligate long-day plants and will not flower unless grown under long-day conditions.

Other Comments:

In the landscape: Studies have shown that when butterfly bushes are pruned in the fall before going dormant and when weather conditions are still favorable for growth, the chances of injury and possible death increase. Therefore, plants should be pruned back hard in the spring rather than in the fall.

Grower Tips:

Space the crop well and provide good airflow through the crop. Water early in the day to allow the foliage to dry by the end of the day.